..::Football III::..

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Gotze: I'll never reach Messi's level

Bayern Munich star Mario Gotze feels it is nearly impossible for anyone to reach the same level as Barcelona ace Lionel Messi.

The former Dortmund man has been compared to the Argentina international ever since Germany coach Joachim Low told him to show the world that he is a better player than the Barca man ahead of his substitute cameo at the World cup final, with Gotze eventually scoring the winner to outshine the 27-year-old.

Nevertheless, Gotze remains humble and has insisted that Messi is still in a league of his own."Messi has proven his entire career at Barcelona that he is at another level. You simply cannot compare me to Messi," Gotze was quoted as saying by Sport Bild.

"He has achieved so many things and has set the bar so high that it is nearly impossible to reach his level for anyone. Messi is something special and simply an amazing player.

"I am often confronted with Low's words, but I think he only said it to motivate me. And that clearly worked out well."Can Pep Guardiola lift me to Messi's level? It would be great if he manages to do that.

"But like I said, Messi has set the bar incredibly high. You can possibly come close occasionally, but it will be tough to perform at that level consistently. I obviously work hard to improve, though."

Gotze, 22, has netted seven goals in 19 Bundesliga appearances so far this term, but has not been involved in a goal for Bayern since their 3-0 Champions League win over CSKA Moscow in early December.

 

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Hernanes: This is Inter's moment of truth

Hernanes believes Inter are facing a moment of truth in their upcoming run of fixtures as they look to kickstart a flagging Serie A campaign and return to Europa League action.

Roberto Mancini has struggled to revive Inter's fortunes since replacing Walter Mazzarri in November but, with fixtures against Atalanta, Cagliari and Fiorentina intertwining European meetings with Celtic, Hernanes is confident they can find form.

Inter ended a three-match losing streak with a 3-0 victory over Palermo on Sunday, taking them up to 10th in the league, and Hernanes is confident they build on their win in the weeks to come."This is the moment of truth and we can’t afford any more mistakes," the Brazil international told reporters.

"The important thing is to move on as a team from this period in which we were not getting results.

"No matter who plays, whoever is on the field must do better. Now it's time to get down to work."I feel the confidence of Mancini."

Inter host Celtic in two weeks' time in the first leg of their round-of-32 Europa League clash before heading to Glasgow.Hernanes stopped short of labelling winning the competition as a defined ambition, but he believes the knockout format could play into their hands.

"Winning the Europa League? This is not the time to set targets."But it is certainly a goal as it is only seven games between now and winning the final."

 

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Barcelona attack best in the club's history, says Edmilson

Former Barcelona defender Edmilson believes the attacking trio of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar is arguably the best front-line in the Catalans' illustrious history.

The Brazilian played alongside the likes of Samuel Eto'o, Ronaldinho and Thierry Henry during his time at Camp Nou between 2004 and 2008, but feels they have never had an attack quite as potent as their current line up."The trident formed by Leo Messi, Neymar, and Luís Suarez is the best trio in Barcelona's history," the Brazilian told Barca TV.

"Everyone in Brazil is happy for Neymar. He's playing fabulously, scoring goals and getting on well with Messi and Suarez."

Edmilson then went on to discuss Barcelona's Copa del Rey tie with another of his old clubs, Villarreal, and warned that Marcelino's men should not be underestimated."If Barca have a favourable result tonight, they could essentially clinch an appearance in the final.

"Villarreal are a young team, with players who have good touch with the ball. Barca need to focus on Villarreal's counterattacks. They defend well and get out quickly on the counter. Barca are in top form by they need to know how to stop that."

The first leg of the semi-final tie takes place at Camp Nou on Wednesday.

 

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De Sciglio: Milan will turn things around

Mattia De Sciglio has admitted that AC Milan have failed to live up to expectations so far this term, but he is confident they will bounce back and climb up the table.

Filippo Inzaghi's men currently sit joint 10th in the Serie A table with 29 points from 22 games, yet De Sciglio believes they have what it takes to overcome their difficulties following the arrival of several new players in the January transfer window.

"We are disappointed with the way the season is going. Obviously everyone expected something better," De Sciglio was quoted as saying on the official Milan website."However, we want to change things around and we believe we can do it if we work hard. We want to climb up the table as high as possible.

"The new signings have settled in straightaway. They are experienced players and they have all played at the highest level in Serie A for a long time so they will be a big help to us.

"We can say that the team is relaxed despite the fact that results have not been going our way."Milan resume Serie A action at home against Empoli on Sunday.

 

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Ancelotti hints at Bundesliga interest

Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti has hinted he could be tempted by a move to the Bundesliga in the future.

The Italian is in just his second season in charge at the Santiago Bernabeu having won the Champions League and Copa del Rey in his maiden campaign in the Madrid dug-out.

Ancelotti came out on top over German opposition when Madrid took on Bayern Munich in the semi-finals of last season's Champions League, with the La Liga leaders running out 5-0 winners over two legs.

The 55-year-old signed a three-year contract upon taking charge at the Bernabeu in the summer of 2013 and the former Milan and Paris Saint-Germain boss has refused to rule out a move to Germany in the future.

In an interview with Bild, the 55-year-old was reminded that Xabi Alonso had sat in the very same seat before going on to sign for the club in August, with Ancelotti joking, "I am superstitious, Bayern is a very big team."

If he was to ever assume the Allianz Arena hotseat, the Italian would follow in the footsteps of one of his coaching compatriots, Giovanni Trapattoni, who enjoyed two spells with the Bavarians in 1994-95 and 1996-98.

When asked by one reporter whether the language barrier could prove problematic, he Ancelotti replied: "If Giovanni Trapattoni can manage in Germany and learn the language then so can I."

The strength of the Bundesliga has increased considerably in recent years as Bayern and Borussia Dortmund have both reached the latter stages of the Champions League on a regular basis, with the pair contesting the 2013 final at Wembley.

Ancelotti was asked for his thoughts on the standard of Germany's top flight, which has a particular relevance given his Madrid side take on Schalke in the last-16 of the competition.

"The Bundesliga has grown rapidly," he praised. "The level is the same as England and Spain and this is why Germany won the World Cup. The technology has improved, I like it, the whole set-up.

He added: "We will be without James Rodriguez, Sergio Ramos, Pepe and Luka Modric, while Schalke's style has changed into the style of an Italian coach, Roberto Di Matteo. Like all Italian coaches he has tried to give the side a sound defensive footing."

Given German football's renaissance, the plight of Dortmund - who were bottom of the Bundesliga prior to their 3-0 win over Freiburg on Saturday - has come as a shock and though he admitted being surprised by their struggles, Ancelotti said BVB boss Jurgen Klopp has been a source of inspiration for him.

"I watched their 1-0 defeat to Augsburg and I couldn't believe what I was seeing. However, I am convinced they will continue to do well in the Champions League and it will be a good tie between them and Juventus.

"Klopp has brought an immense amount to Dortmund. He is world-class and his training has inspired me. Their counter-attacks with fast players were one of the styles I studied the most last season."

 

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Matuidi: PSG have fear factor back

Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Blaise Matuidi believes they have restored the fear factor for opposing teams following their 2-0 Coupe de France win over Nantes.
Laurent Blanc's men cruised into the quarter-finals of France's oldest competition on Wednesday, thanks to first-half goals from Edinson Cavani and Yohan Cabaye.

Nantes never threatened a comeback as PSG eased into the last eight and - ahead of Saturday's Ligue 1 meeting with Caen and next Tuesday's Champions League last 16 first-leg clash with Chelsea - Matuidi feels teams are once again scared of a PSG side that proved inconsistent in the first half of the season.

"We are committed in four competitions," Matuidi told France 3. "It has gone rather well since January."We have a very good staff and a very good team. It is difficult to play PSG, teams fear us a little more because we have found our form and we are winning."

However, PSG - who have already reached the final of the Coupe de la Ligue - face a tough test in the last eight having been handed a home tie against Monaco in the quarter-finals.Holders Guingamp will visit fourth-tier Concarneau, while Saint-Etienne travel to Championnat National side Boulogne.

The winners of Thursday's game between Metz and Brest will take on Ligue 2 Auxerre. The quarter-final ties will be played on March 3 and 4.

 

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Martinez: Shameful Chelsea players pressured the referee

Everton manager Roberto Martinez claims referee Jonathan Moss was pressured into showing Gareth Barry a red card before Willian's late strike gave Chelsea a 1-0 win at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday.

The visitors looked set to secure a point after Tim Howard produced a string of saves on his return from injury to frustrate the Premier League leaders on Wednesday.

Chelsea were not to be denied, though, as Willian's deflected strike a minute from time ensured Jose Mourinho's side remain seven points clear at the top of the table.

Willian's winner came just after Barry had been shown a second yellow card for a challenge on Chelsea's match-winning Brazil international, which resulted in a mass confrontation.

And Everton boss Martinez accused Chelsea's players of influencing Moss, while he believes Barry's dismissal was a turning point.

He told BBC Sport: "Every time a player loses a challenge it feels like the weight of the world is on the referee's shoulders and he feels he needs to react. To give Gareth Barry a second yellow card because of the reaction from Chelsea's players is disappointing.

"They surrounded the referee and their conduct was a real shame. It created a little bit of belief for Chelsea and the goal came as a consequence of that. It was a very scrappy goal - if you don't have the momentum often they don't end up in the net."

While Howard performed heroics for the visitors, Petr Cech also showed his class by twice denying former Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku and Martinez was left to rue those missed chances.

The Spaniard said: "We were in control. We had clear-cut chances, the best ones of the game - they needed world-class saves from Petr Cech.

"It's a shame we couldn't convert the chances. It's a huge disappointment. Our performance deserved a positive result."

 

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Cabaye: PSG didn't give Nantes a chance

Yohan Cabaye does not think Paris Saint-Germain gave Nantes a chance after their two first-half goals in their Coupe de France last-16 win on Wednesday.

The former Newcastle United midfielder scored the second goal for Laurent Blanc's men with a third of the game gone, with Edinson Cavani having put the Parisiens into the lead after 18 minutes.

Nantes were unable to muster a fightback and PSG eased off the throttle and cruised to a 2-0 triumph, setting up a quarter-final clash with Monaco.

"It was a good scenario for us, with a goal scored quickly and then another just before half-time," Cabaye, who was one of seven changes to the XI which started at the weekend against Lyon, told L'Equipe."We did not leave much of a chance for the opponents. Our team was full of players who have not necessarily had a lot of playing time than the usual starters.

"We put in good effort and it was important to have that mindset. You want to be in this great competition to win it.

"We saw that we have drawn on Monaco at the Parc des Princes in the next round. To still be in the running in the Coupe de France allows everyone to remain under pressure."PSG will face Monaco on either March 3 or 4 in the French capital.

The other three ties see third-division Boulogne host fourth-placed Ligue 1 team Saint-Etienne, amateur club Concarneau welcome Coupe de France holders Guingamp, and Ligue 2's Auxerre will visit either Metz or Brest.

 

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Neymar not Barcelona's penalty taker, Messi is - Luis Enrique

Luis Enrique has stressed that Lionel Messi remains Barcelona 's first-choice penalty taker, despite Neymar taking over in their 3-1 Copa del Rey win over Villarreal on Wednesday.Barca moved a step closer to their fourth Copa final in five years with home success in the first leg of their semi-final.

Lionel Messi put the Catalans into a 41st-minute lead only for Villarreal's Manu Trigueros to stun a sparse Camp Nou with a brilliant effort from distance just after half-time.

Andres Iniesta and Gerard Pique scored shortly afterwards in an action-packed second half, though, while Barca also missed the chance to score a fourth as Neymar's penalty was saved by Sergio Asenjo.

"We make a list of penalty takers but they then decide," Barca coach Luis Enrique told reporters after the match in his press conference."Leo has always been our penalty taker and Neymar second. I assume they spoke and I had full confidence."

Gerard Pique picked up plenty of praise for his goalscoring performance and his coach thinks there are few defenders as good as the Spain international.

"Pique's performance was very good," Luis Enrique said. "He is a vital player and I did not know that he has now scored five goals this season.
"Defensively, he is one of the best players at this level."

Luis Enrique believes that Marcelino's men were more guarded in Wednesday's game than when they went close to denying Barca all three points in the league at the start of February, and was overall pleased with how his players bagged their 10th consecutive triumph in all competitions.

"The game had a lot of characteristics from what we saw in the Liga match," he added. "Villarreal were much more defensive than they were in La Liga, when they were searching for a positive result."They played with 10 guys on the edge of the area. We tried to create danger for them, down the wings and from outside of the box, and pressed well to avoid the counterattack.

"I think we’ve played a good game against opponents who sat much deeper and the result is a good one for us. The fact we missed a penalty gives the feeling that it could have been better but I think it is a good result. We will go to El Madrigal to attack and win the match."We have been in good form throughout the season but we can still improve in all aspects of our game."

Villarreal host Barca in the return leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final on Wednesday March 4, with the winner to face either Athletic or Espanyol.

 

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Lambert leaves Aston Villa

Paul Lambert has left his position as manager of Aston Villa, the club have confirmed.

Villa have endured a dismal season to date and are currently in the relegation zone, having won just five of their 25 games in 2014-15.

Lambert oversaw a 2-0 loss to Hull City on Tuesday - a result that came after back-to-back defeats to Chelsea and Arsenal - and the club have now "parted company" with the Scot.

An official Villa statement read: "Aston Villa Football Club has parted company this evening with manager Paul Lambert.

"First-team coach Scott Marshall and goalkeeping coach Andy Marshall will continue to prepare the squad for Sunday's FA Cup tie with Leicester City at Villa Park.

"The club would also like to place on record its thanks to Paul and take this opportunity to wish him every success in the future.

"The club will announce a new manager in due course."

Lambert's tenure at Villa Park was turbulent, with fan protests taking place earlier this season, while one noted Midlands newspaper turned on the 45-year-old following the defeat to Steve Bruce's men.

Villa have not won in the league since December 7 - a 2-1 victory over Leicester - and will begin the post-Lambert era against the same opposition this weekend, in an FA Cup fifth round tie.

 

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Lambert ta mechchara kalayak dunna 1kath aparade​

 

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'Don't make me laugh' - Mourinho dismisses Ivanovic incident and praises match officials

Jose Mourinho has laughed off suggestions that Branislav Ivanovic could have been red-carded in Chelsea's 1-0 win over Everton and praised the match officials for a "very, very good" display.

The Blues defender appeared to clash with James McCarthy in a major flashpoint during the fixture at Stamford Bridge, but Mourinho paid little attention to the incident.

Asked by BT Sport if he had seen the apparent confrontation, Mourinho responded: "Don't make me laugh."

The Chelsea boss also showered his side in praise for continuing to push for a winner, one that Willian found in the 90th minute.

He added: "It's beautiful to win in the last minute. It's so sad to lose in the last minute. I think they have to be very disappointed because they gave us a very difficult match but we are obviously very, very happy and we think we deserve this happiness because the boys, they fought so hard to try and win the game and they press it so much for the last 20 minutes, risking a lot to try to win.

"The referee performance, in my opinion, very very good, with the goal disallowed - fantastically well disallowed - by the assistant referee.

"And I think a big game. Everton gave us a very difficult game. Everton change its profile, its DNA, this is not Everton, this is another Everton. They defended very well, they had very good defensive performances."

Gareth Barry was sent off before Willian netted the decisive strike and Mourinho felt the midfielder was a victim of the Toffees' tactics of breaking up the game with "intelligent fouls."

"They made lots of fouls, sometimes you can call intelligent fouls, but if the referee follows the rule, is yellow card, yellow card, yellow card, and they paid the price for that with the second yellow card.

"But overall, a big match, and I am tired."

 

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Van Gaal to the press: Tonight you are right... it was a performance to forget

Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal has criticised his side's performance in the 3-1 win over Burnley but dismissed suggestions that his team have been below-par for a while now.

United returned to winning ways against Sean Dyche's men after a dismal 1-1 draw with West Ham at the weekend, with Chris Smalling netting a double and Robin van Persie converting from the penalty spot.

However, Van Gaal admitted after the fixture that United were far from their best throughout the 90 minutes, though he rejected assertions that the performance was the latest in a long line of drab displays.

He told reporters: "I do not agree with your analysis [that United have struggled], I have only said this match was not good. We have played now 16 or 17 matches with only one loss and a lot of goals in favour so I don't think every match is not attractive and we are not playing attacking football so I don't agree with you. But tonight you are right.

"I think you have seen first half was not a good performance. Burnley were the better team, they pressed us and we could not beat the press. We could not pass the ball and I want to give all the credit to Burnley but we scored out of set-plays.

"I am very happy we were 2-1 at half-time so I could reorganise a little bit. I think the second half was a little bit better, not much better, and we could benefit more the weaknesses of the opponent.

"I said to the players when you win such matches mostly it means we are having a good thing. But we have to forget this match because it was not the best match and for the process it was not a good match."

United were jeered at half-time and Van Gaal admitted that the boos are a "concern", but was quick to point out that the Old Trafford support cheered the side off after the final whistle.

"The fans are the most important part of the club, they keep the club living but they applaud after the match," he said. "Always a match is 90 minutes, not 45 minutes."

 

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Pudumai LVG deyak piligatthanathnam ithin argue karala eya hari kiyannamane hadanne​

 

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Barcelona 3-1 Villarreal: Messi and Iniesta seal first-leg advantage

 

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Lambert leaves Aston Villa

loku deyakLambert digatama hitynama Aston Villa relegate wennath thbba

Lambert ta mechchara kalayak dunna 1kath aparade​

 

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Messi is not a machine, but he is a phenomenon - Abidal

Lionel Messi “is not a machine” but he remains a phenomenon, says his former Barcelona team-mate Eric Abidal.

The French defender spent six years playing at Camp Nou with the Argentine before leaving for Monaco in 2013, while Messi has remained with the Catalans.
Although he has lost out on the past two Ballon d'Or awards, Messi has been in excellent form in 2015 and Barcelona have closed the gap at the top of La Liga to just one point behind Real Madrid with a run of 10 consecutive wins.

"Messi is at 100 per cent, he has been at the level everyone expected of him this year," Abidal told ESPN. "He is still scoring all of the time and he is still a phenomenon."The big players will always be big players, but they are not machines. That goes for Leo, too, but when he is in form then everything goes well for Barca."

Abidal is back in the city of Barcelona having retired from professional football at the end of 2014 and is working for his charitable foundation which helps children with cancer.

Regarding rumours that he could be employed in some capacity at Camp Nou in the near future, he added: "The club and I are very close, they are part of my family."

Luis Enrique's men are in La Liga action on Sunday when they host Levante. They are back competing in the Champions League last 16 on February 24 with a visit to Manchester City, who they knocked out of Europe last season.

 

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Nasri blames Deschamps for 'depriving' him of World Cup chance

France reject Samir Nasri has accused Didier Deschamps of “depriving” him of the chance to play at a World Cup and says he will never forget it.

The attacking midfielder had a brilliant 2013-14 season with Manchester City, winning the Premier League and regularly featuring in Manuel Pellegrini's first-choice XI.

However, Nasri was left out of Les Bleus' squad for last summer's World Cup in Brazil by Deschamps - presumably in part because of the fall-out from his tirade upon France's exit from Euro 2012 - triggering the 27-year-old's early international retirement.Nasri has not forgiven the coach, who signed a new deal with the national side on Thursday, for the way he was denied a chance at appearing in the game's biggest competition, having not made the 23-man squad for the 2010 tournament either.

"Missing the World Cup was the biggest disappointment of my career," he told L'Equipe."That is what hurts me the most. Deschamps deprived me of it when I deserved it. I will never forget that.

"I feel bad, especially for my family, when people say that I create problems all the time. I do not think I deserve such a trial. The France players who went on strike [in 2010] were forgiven but I wasn't.

"If I could speak to Deschamps, I would say he should behave like a man, to justify his choice and tell me what he thinks."To tell me: 'Listen, it's like this, you won't come to the World Cup with us. If you are not happy, well, so be it.' He should at least have talked about it with me like a man."

Nasri also revealed that Pellegrini suggested he make himself available to the France team, despite his very public disagreement with Deschamps, but he has no intention of backing out of his reactionary retirement."Pellegrini asked me to return to selection," the ex-Marseille and Arsenal man added. "But that would not make me happy.

"I would suffer if I did and I really do not see myself returning to the France team. I am being sincere."

 

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Szczesny voted Brentford's Goalkeeper of the Decade

Wojciech Szczesny has been voted Brentford’s Goalkeeper of the Decade by the club’s fans.

The Arsenal shot-stopper spent a season on loan at Griffin Park in the 2009-10 season, making 28 appearances in all competitions.

Szczesny was signed by former Brentford boss Andy Scott and earned his manager’s praise during his short-term stay at the club, with the Pole making a stunning stop against Bristol Rovers during a 0-0 draw.

"His performances suggest that he would not be out of place in the Championship or even the Premier League,” he said. “It has reached the stage where when he lets in a goal we wonder why he hasn’t saved it."

Szczesny beat off competition from Stuart Nelson, Ben Hamer, Simon Moore, Richard Lee and David Button to win the supporters’ vote, with the decision announced on Thursday.

 

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Bayern are 50 years ahead of Dortmund, says Watzke

Bayern Munich are 50 years ahead of Borussia Dortmund in terms of their size and stature, according to the latter club's CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke.

The two teams have finished inside the top three in the last four Bundesliga seasons but currently occupy opposite ends of the table – Bayern are eight points clear at the top while BVB are just one point off the bottom.

Despite this, Dortmund are still fighting in the Champions League - they face Italian champions Juventus for a place in the quarter-finals of the tournament - although their chief does not think they will be at Bayern's level for another half a century.

"Bayern's Munich's achievements cannot be matched by us in the next 20 years - they are 50 years ahead of us," Watzke told reporters in Dusseldorf.

"But now we have reached the last eight in Europe for consecutive seasons and, ideally, that will happen again in the next month or so."

In Dortmund's absence at the top of the table, Bayern are being challenged in the league by Wolfsburg, who strengthened in the mid-season transfer window by signing Andre Schurrle from Chelsea for €32 million.

"Wolfsburg have powerful resources," Watzke added. "When they take things seriously, then all limits are withdrawn. Sure, we could push for a transfer like Schurrle at €32m, but not as often."

Jurgen Klopp's position as head coach at Signal Iduna Park has come under question in recent months and their home defeat to Augsburg sent rumours that he might be axed into overdrive.

However, he has so far survived the storm, with Dortmund bouncing back in their following game on Saturday by winning 3-0 at Freiburg and Watzke insists the charismatic trainer is going nowhere."If ever a club was entitled to stick with their coach, it is Dortmund with Klopp," the CEO continued.

"There was never an ultimatum and I cannot imagine a situation where he would resign. He has confidence and we have far too much trust in each other. There will be no firing, BVB are characterised by solidarity."

Dortmund are in action on Friday against Klopp's former club Mainz aiming for their first home win in the Bundesliga since December 5.